2016 Alberta Holstein Branch AGM - Cowsmo

2016 Alberta Holstein Branch AGM

The Alberta Holstein Branch AGM was held on February 11th and was hosted by the Central Alberta Holstein Club in Lacombe at the Best Western.

President Dale Bienert called the 2016 Alberta Branch meeting to order at 10:10 am at the Best Western, Lacombe, AB with approximately 59 people in attendance; Dale welcomed everyone and introduced guests:   Holstein Canada President John Buckley, 2nd Vice President and Alberta National Director Orville Schmidt, Holstein Canada CEO Ann Louise Carson, CanWest DHI General Manager Neil Petreny, DHI Regional Manager Trevor Fisher, Holstein Canada Past President and Alberta Branch President Dale Bienert, Holstein Canada Past President John Iversen, Holstein Canada Past Presidents, Norman Atkins, Don Chalack, Don Wright, , Marjorie Atkins, Orville Schmidt, Ken Fenske,Wim van de Brake, . Tim Knull

President Dale Bienert was honored to serve the membership and noted that Alberta is one of the most active Branches in terms of services provided for members. The branch supports youth through scholarships, 4-H, WCC and an opportunity for youth to attend the National Convention.

It has been a good year in the industry with cattle prices up and attendance at shows for cattle and spectators have increased overall.  Dale congratulated Robert Crest, Skycrest Holsteins on winning the Curtis Clark Award and Orville Schmidt for being awarded  the 2015 Marj Atkins Award.

National Director Orville Schmidt reported that 2015 has seen Phase I of the Herdbook completed.  This will allow easier access to information, more efficient data entry and the move to going paperless in the IT world.

Two new field staff have been hired; Brian Nelson in Western Canada and Barbara Christie in the Atlantic to provide member relations and recruitment.  The On-Farm Data Exchange was initiated to increase understanding of On-Farm automation practices in the dairy improvement industry, and develop processes and software that link on-farm data systems with Holstein Canada services Orville has had a busy year as Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee and the Show Committee where several new programs to highlight young Canadian Judges and increase interest in shows are being discussed.  He is also a member of Breed Advisory where the new Pro$ Index is being discussed along with genomics and future research with feeding efficiency.

Orville has had the opportunity to travel to most of the provinces over the past year and says “the excitement of all across the vast land about AGM 2016 is indeed very exciting and “Just Majestic.”

Orville introduced Holstein Canada President John Buckley who addressed the members and congratulated 2015 Curtis Clark Award winner Robert Crest and Holstein Canada Achievement Award Winners Norman and Marjorie Atkins. He invited the members to the National Convention and introduced Holstein Canada CEO Ann Louise Carson.

Holstein Canada CEO Ann Louise Carson addressed the membership and gave an overview of the new Herd Book that is now online and available to the membership, reviewed the stats for registration and classification and despite the decline in herd numbers those still remain constant. The addition of staff to provide field service and meet with potential and existing members should help maintain and increase membership and encourage the use of the tools available through Holstein Canada. The new DFC Proaction® is fully supported by Holstein Canada and the classifiers will be carrying out the animal assessments as of September 2016. A two year contract is in place with DFC to establish the benchmarks.  The admin fee is free for classifying clients while there will be a fee visit +6$/cow for non-classifying clients.

Joop Garretson gave an update for the National Convention that will be held in Alberta April 19-24 in Calgary and Banff and encouraged everyone to come.  Volunteers are needed for various committees and anyone interested should contact one of the committee members.

Andrew Wildeboer and Lee Simanton will join the board as directors at large for 3 and 2 year terms respectively; Directors appointed include Larry Arvay representing the Southern Club and Joop Garretsen representing the Green Acres Club. The current board consists of President Bob Reck,Vice-President Willem van der Linde, Past President Dale Bienert, National Director Orville Schmidt, Secretary/Treasurer Heidi Voegeli-Bleiker and Directors:Tim Hummel, Joop Garretsen, Darren Lind, Sue Crest, Andrew Wildeboer Larry Arvay & Lee Simanton.

The various committee reports were included in the program booklet and the Chairpersons gave an overview and answered questions. The Annual picnic will be hosted in Lethbridge in conjunction with their Annual Show May 27, 2016 at the Exhibition Grounds, Lethbridge, AB;  The 2017 Annual General Meeting will be hosted by the Country Roads Holstein Club at the Westlock Inn, the date TBA.

CanWest DHI General Manager Neil Petreny reported that DHI enrolment in Alberta is down slightly to 76.3%; 406 herds with 57,700 cows – average of 142 cows; 64.7% of DHI cows managed with Dairy Comp 305; 10.6% of DHI customers now have robots. Out of the top 10 ERA;s, Alberta has 5 with Peter Roe and Lance Primmer 1st and 2nd.  Alberta’s top three herds are 1. Roseglenn Farming Col, Ruben Entz (#13 in Canada); 2. Deerfield Colony, Andy Waldner; 3. Wetoka Farm, Michael, Marla, Art & Eileen Roth.

Following lunch, “Does Buying Land make Cents” was the topic discussed with Daniel Luymes,CPA, CA Senior Manager at BDO Canada LLP. He provided a worksheet that can be used to determine the profitability of various crops that came up with variable results depending on the information provided.  A producer panel followed where Jeff Nielsen,Nielsen Farms Ltd., Lacombe, Brad Schakel, Brando Holsteins, Lacombe, &  Steve Tenhove Aspenridge Farms  Ltd., Blackfalds, discussed “Making Cents of Feed Costs.”

The ladies gathered to shop at the mini market organized by the Central Club ladies and toured a couple of show homes following lunch.

The Annual Awards were presented in the evening following superb banquet catered by Bob Ronnie Catering: Scholarship Awards were presented to Willem Jos Bikker, Mellowdale Dairy who is currently studying Animal Science at Lakeland College, Vermillion, AB;  Shelby Devet, K-Vet Holteins Ltd, who is enrolled in BSC Agribusiness at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK; Lee Morey, Unique Valleystream Genetics, Rochester, AB, currently enrolled in the Agribusiness program at Lakeland College, Vermillion, AB and Brandi Reck, currently in her third year with a major in Computer Science at the University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB.

The nominees for the President’s Club Cow Awards were Morsan Sanchez Goldy Brenda EX-91-5YR-CAN, Morinville Hutterite Colony, Sturgeon County;Kavanagh Bolton Callista EX-91-2E-CAN, George Debbink, Leduc;  Lone Pine Armstead Fidelia VG-87-4YR-CAN   , Bertens Holsteins Ltd, Olds; Pol Butte Shottle Jasmine ET EX-90-3E-CAN 1*(0/5), Van den Pol Dairy, Lethbridge.  The 2015 Cow of the Year was Morsan Sanchez Goldy Brenda EX-91-5YR-CAN, Morinville Hutterite Colony.

Breeder of the Year nominees were Morinville Colony, Country Roads Holstein Club;  Detimdale Holsteins, Northern Alberta Holstein Club;  Lucky Hill Dairy, Central Alberta Holstein Club, Innislake Dairy Farm Ltd., Southern Alberta Holstein Club & Pol Butte Dairy, Green Acres Holstein Club. Pol Butte Dairy took home the 2015 Breeder of the Year Award.

The Branch booklet covers were auctioned with Pol Butte Dairy purchasing the front page.  Green Acres Club director Joop Garretsen agreed to a Shave & Haircut to promote a fundraiser for Cancer that brought in $10,250. Holstein Canada CEO Ann Louise Carson did the honors with a little assistance from Holstein Canada President John Buckley. Many Thanks for all those who supported this worthy cause.

William James entertained with Jeparody Live that required crowd participation resulting in more entertainment and a fun filled evening. A big Thank-you to the Central Alberta Holstein Club for hosting and organizing the event..

Wim van der Linde
Wim van der Linde
Rob Reck
Rob Reck
Darren Lind
Darren Lind
Youth Chairperson Sue Crest
Youth Chairperson Sue Crest
Neil Petreny
Neil Petreny
To Ten ERA's
To Ten ERA’s
Shopping at the Mini Market
Shopping at the Mini Market
Kirsty & Markus Slingerland
Kirsty & Markus Slingerland
Anna Wildeboer & Kate Luymes
Anna Wildeboer & Kate Luymes
Monda Eggink & Joanne van der Linde
Monda Eggink & Joanne van der Linde
Top Alberta Herds
Top Alberta Herds
Aron Ten Brummelhuis
Aron Ten Brummelhuis
Norman & Marjorie Atkins
Norman & Marjorie Atkins
Norman & Marjorie Atkins, Darrin Lind & Lance Briggs
Norman & Marjorie Atkins, Darrin Lind & Lance Briggs
Don Wright, John Iverson, Ken Fenske & Eric Taylor
Don Wright, John Iverson, Ken Fenske & Eric Taylor
Producer Panel : Jeff Nielson, Brad Schakel & Steve Tenhove
Producer Panel : Jeff Nielson, Brad Schakel & Steve Tenhove
Rob Luymes
Rob Luymes
Steve Tenhove
Steve Tenhove
Brad Schackel
Brad Schackel
Jeff Nielson
Jeff Nielson
Sue & Robert Crest, John & Debbie Iversen
Sue & Robert Crest, John & Debbie Iversen
Dale Bienert, Tom Hofstra & Tim Knull
Dale Bienert, Tom Hofstra & Tim Knull
Debbie Hofstra, Ann Louise Carson, Heidi & Arjian
Debbie Hofstra, Ann Louise Carson, Heidi & Arjian
Debbie Hofstra & Ann Louise Carson
Debbie Hofstra & Ann Louise Carson
Kristy, Markus, & Clarence Slingerland, Wim van de Brake
Kristy, Markus, & Clarence Slingerland, Wim van de Brake
John Buckley, Orville Schmidt & Dale Bienert
John Buckley, Orville Schmidt & Dale Bienert
Cow of the Year nominees (l-r) Kavanagh bolton Callista, George Debbink,  Lone Pine Arstead Fidelia, Ad Bertens, Pol Butte Shottle Jasmine, Gys van den Pol, Summershade Icellene Baxter, Willem van der Linde, Ken Wurtz, Morsan Sanchez Goldy Brenda, Morinville Colony, Summershade Icellene Baxter, Brian Bajema  & Bob Reck
Cow of the Year nominees (l-r) Kavanagh bolton Callista, George Debbink,  Lone Pine Arstead Fidelia, Ad Bertens, Pol Butte Shottle Jasmine, Gys van den Pol, Summershade Icellene Baxter, Willem van der Linde, Ken Wurtz, Morsan Sanchez Goldy Brenda, Morinville Colony, Summershade Icellene Baxter, Brian Bajema  & Bob Reck
Southern Alberta Holstein Club Breeder of the Year Debbie & John Iversen, Innislake Dairy Farm & Bob
Southern Alberta Holstein Club Breeder of the Year Debbie & John Iversen, Innislake Dairy Farm & Bob
Central Club Breeder of the Year, Joanne & Willem van der Linde & Rob Reck
Central Club Breeder of the Year, Joanne & Willem van der Linde & Rob Reck
Northern Club Breeder of the Year, Nominees Tim & Debbie Hofstra, Heidi & Arjan de Lange & Bob Reck
Northern Club Breeder of the Year, Nominees Tim & Debbie Hofstra, Heidi & Arjan de Lange & Bob Reck
Country Roads Breeder Nominee Morinville Colony, Ken Wurtz, Bob Reck, & John Wurtz
Country Roads Breeder Nominee Morinville Colony, Ken Wurtz, Bob Reck, & John Wurtz
Breeder of the Year, Bob Reck, Corinne & Erik Versteegen, Gys & Sylia van den Pol, & Ruben Ten Brummelhuis, & Sponsor Dale Bienert
Breeder of the Year, Bob Reck, Corinne & Erik Versteegen, Gys & Sylia van den Pol, & Ruben Ten Brummelhuis, & Sponsor Dale Bienert
Andrew Wildeboer
Andrew Wildeboer
Wendy Chalack, Marylee & Everett Simanton
Wendy Chalack, Marylee & Everett Simanton
Change for a Great Cause, Joop Garettsen & Ann Louise Carson
Change for a Great Cause, Joop Garettsen & Ann Louise Carson
Harry Makinga trying to get them to preform, Andew Wildeboer, Makinga, Anna Wildeboer and Brian Bajema
Harry Makinga trying to get them to preform, Andew Wildeboer, Makinga, Anna Wildeboer and Brian Bajema
Ruth Hehli, Glen & Kim Robinson, Amanda & Markus Hehli
Ruth Hehli, Glen & Kim Robinson, Amanda & Markus Hehli

 

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